University at Buffalo
4-9
Bucknell
3-9
Bulls Pick Up Second Straight Win, 64-51
1/3/2010 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo women's basketball team opened the new year with its second consecutive victory as the Bulls defeated Bucknell, 64-51, Sunday afternoon at Alumni Arena. The Bulls led for the final 30 minutes as they picked up their fourth win of the year, finishing non-conference play at 4-9.
After a Bucknell three to start the game, the Bulls went on a 9-0 run to take the early lead. The Bison fought back and led by one at 17-16 with 9:14 left when sophomore Beth Christensen regained the Buffalo lead with three of her 11 first half points to give the Bulls the lead and begin a 7-0 run. UB led by as many as eight points in the opening half, doing so at the 3:56 mark on a three-pointer from redshirt junior Ashley Zuber. The Bulls would end up taking an eight-point lead into the half.
Beth Christensen |
The first six minutes of the second half saw the Bulls go on a 15-3 run as UB led by as many as 20 points at 51-31 on a Kourtney Brownlayup. However, Bucknell was able to stay in the game as the Bulls were unable to hit another field goal for nearly 12 minutes. The Bison were able to cut the lead to nine, but the Bulls ended the drought with a layup from Jessica Fortman. During the drought, UB did get a 4-for-4 performance from the free throw line from freshman Nytor Longar. As a team, the Bulls went a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe in the second half to hold on for the win.
"Overall I am pleased with the effort we gave and we will take a win any way we can get it right now," said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. "To put two wins together we feel really good about ourselves heading into MAC play this Wednesday."
Bridgette Kendricks |
The Bulls were led by Brown, who recorded her third straight double-double with 16 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Brown recorded 14 of those rebounds in the first half. Brown also had an assist, four blocks and two steals. Christensen tied her career-high with 11 points as she added seven rebounds, a block and two steals. Fortman andBridgette Kendricks each had eight points and two assists, while freshman Abby Dowd had seven points and four assists.
Bucknell was led by a game-high 25 points from Trisha Krewson, who went 7-for-11 from behind the arc. Cosima Higham had 11 points, while Morgan Wrightson added 10 points.
The Bulls begin Mid-American Conference play at home this Wednesday as they host Miami (OH) at 7:00 pm at Alumni Arena.
